Le Amiche

Clelia arrives back from Rome to Turin and is assigned to supervise the opening of a branch of the Roman fashion salon. The assignment marks the start of her balancing professional ambition with personal entanglements. She surveys the under-construction salon and readies for the imminent opening.

During her inspection, Clelia is confronted with Rosetta's suicide attempt, which introduces her to Turin's circle of socialites: Mariella, Momina, Nene, and the artist Lorenzo. The encounter places Clelia at the center of a world of status, flirtation, and hidden tensions. The incident foreshadows the emotional upheavals to come.

The construction work on the salon is not finished, forcing delays. Clelia scolds Cesare, the architect in charge, who is revealed to be Momina's current lover. Cesare's assistant Carlo is introduced amid these tensions.

Clelia feels an attraction to Carlo, but she is reminded of the social boundaries between him, a working-class man, and herself, though she too grew up in Turin's poorer quarters. The attraction unsettles her as she navigates her professional role.

After Rosetta's hospital return, the group—including Cesare and Lorenzo—takes a trip to the beach. The excursion exposes the group’s dynamics and Rosetta’s fragile emotional state. The setting shifts from interiors to the seaside, heightening the romance and jealousy at play.

It becomes evident that Rosetta has fallen for Lorenzo, the man she modeled for. She reveals the sting of the unfulfilled love and recounts the night of her suicide attempt. The emotional tension deepens amid the sun and surf.

To give Rosetta a new direction, Clelia offers her a job at the salon, hoping to provide a different perspective on life. Rosetta considers the opportunity as a path away from her emptiness. The moment anchors Clelia’s professional resolve.

Rosetta urges Lorenzo to leave Nene for her, hoping to claim his affection. Lorenzo remains hesitant and torn between loyalty and desire. The tension tests the boundaries between friendship, love, and art.

At the salon’s opening, Nene senses Rosetta’s attraction to Lorenzo and suggests letting him go. The event intensifies underlying rivalries and threatens the stability of the salon’s new venture. The social spectacle underscores the cost of desire.

The group later meets at a restaurant where Cesare mocks Lorenzo’s artistic success. The two men quarrel, and Rosetta follows Lorenzo, seeking reassurance that he cannot give her what she desires. The scene crystallizes the fragility of their relationships.

Lorenzo admits he cannot give Rosetta the love she wants and returns to Nene. Nene ultimately accepts him back, even if it means forfeiting a chance to go to New York for her own exhibition. The couple’s drama reshapes the circle’s dynamics.

Rosetta drowns herself in the Po River, shattering the group’s spell of indulgence. Clelia denounces Momina’s self-righteous cynicism in front of the salon's customers. The tragedy exposes the emotional price of their social world.

Convinced of losing her job, Clelia confronts the possibility of returning to Rome, but her employer’s offer only strengthens her resolve. She chooses her professional career and independence over becoming a traditional wife. The moment seals her stance in the face of social expectations.

Before leaving, Clelia hints at continuing the relationship with Carlo and asks him to meet one last time. Carlo fails to appear, instead watching her departure from the platform. The moment underscores the costs of pursuing love across class boundaries.

Clelia boards a train to Rome, choosing her professional path over personal attachment. The journey marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another as she moves toward independence.